Book 82 - Redeeming Love

My eighty-second book was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This book is about Angel, a prostitute living in the Gold Rush. She hates being a prostitute, but it is the only thing she has ever known, having been sold into it at the age of 8. While she is out walking, she is seen by a man named Michael Hosea. God tells Michael that she is the women that he is supposed to marry. He visits her in the brothel, intending to take her home with him. She has been proposed to many times, so she thinks that he is just like the others. However, unlike the others, Michael keeps coming back. One night, after Angel is beaten, almost to the point of dying, she is rescued by Michael, who insists that they be married before he will take her home. She agrees, thinking she is close to death anyway. After he nurses her back to health, she still doesn't believe he actually wants to be with her forever. Even after she runs away, he goes and gets her again. Finally, she decides that he might just be exactly what he says. As she starts to open her heart, she also starts to fear even more. Because, even though Michael vows to love her forever, she still has a secret that even he might not be able to take. Based on the story of Hosea and Gomer from the book of Hosea in the Bible, this is a great story for anyone, but especially believers.
Grade: A+
SC: 7
V: 7
C: 1

Book 81 - What Happened to Goodbye

My 81st book this year was What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. As with all of her other books, I loved this one. It just took me a long time because of rehearsals for something at my college called Tiger Tunes...long story. Anyway, this book is about Mclean, who is a girl that reinvents herself everytime she moves somewhere new with her father. After they move to their fifth town, she somehow accidentally tells a new friend that her name is Mclean, instead of the planned name of Liz. As she gets closer to her new friend Riley, she also begins to grow close to Dave, the "good" boy next door. Although he appears to be the standard goodie-two-shoes, he isn't quite what he appears to be, proving that even the people that look the cleanest have secrets of their own. While she navigates the problems of being herself for the first time in years, she also has to solve the problem of her mother, who hasn't left her alone since the divorce, even though that's exactly what Mclean wants. And just when Mclean finally finds a place where she actually wants to stay permanently, what will happen if her father decides to move again?
Grade: A
SC: 3
V: 2
C: 3

Book 80 - Delirium

My eightieth book this year was Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Lena lives in a world where love is illegal. Every person, on their eighteenth birthday, gets an operation done that prevents love and, because they can't love, it also prevents hate and any other strong emotion. Anyone that resists is either forced or killed. Lena can't wait to have her operation and be matched with a boy who she will spend the rest of her life with. But when her best friend Hana convinces her to go to an illegal party, where the "uncureds" listen to outlawed music and talk to the opposite gender, Lena discovers a whole new world. And this new world includes Alex, a mysterious boy who Lena suddenly feels like getting to know better. Lena knows that she's coming down with the "deleria", but she can't bring herself to care. But, with her operation fast approaching, she and Alex have to find a way to escape to the Wilds, a place with no rules and, most importantly, love.
Grade: B+
SC: 6
V: 8
C: 3

Book 79 - Fairest

The seventy-ninth book I read was Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. In this rewrite of Snow White, Aza lives in the town of Ayortha, which is a town mentioned in Levine's other novel, Ella Enchanted. This is considered a companion novel to Ella Enchanted because it mentions several characters and places from that book. Aza is considered ugly because of her skin complexion and her...size. All of her life, she's had to cope with the fact that she's completely different from everyone else in her family and town. But, when a Dame asks Aza to step in for her companion who has fallen ill, Aza is transported to the magical world of the wealthy in the king's castle for his wedding to the beautiful Ivi. Some people in the kingdom immediately distrust Ivi, but Aza finds herself drawn to the new queen, even more so after she becomes the lady-in-waiting. While she doesn't understand many of the customs of this new country, she seems willing to try. That is, until the king is suddenly injured and Ivi is suddenly put in charge of the kingdom. Soon, Ivi has turned most of the country against her because of the things she does trying to be a "strong queen". When she blackmails Aza into helping her, Aza becomes sure that Ivi is much more devious than she appears. But who would believe a lady who isn't even a true lady over a queen?
Grade: A
SC: 3
V: 5
C: 1

Book 78 - Forgotten

My seventy-eighth book was Forgotten by Cat Patrick. London Lane seems like a regular girl. But she's not. Every night, at exactly 4:33 AM, her brain resets itself and she doesn't remember anything that went on the day before. All she can "remember" are events from her past. With the help of her mother, best friend, and carefully written notes about what went on the day before, London is able to make it through life basically unscathed. But, when a mysterious (and gorgeous) boy named Luke Henry shows up and seems to "get her". But, the problem is, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. Even after they start dating, she still can't find him. As her memories get increasingly darker, she has to try to figure out what happened before the memory most on her mind (a funeral of an unknown person) comes true. Several big shocks in this book, most of which the readers don't see coming.
Grade: A
SC: 3
V: 5
C: 3

Book 77 - Dreamland

My seventy-seventh book was Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. This book is about Caitlyn, who's sister, Cass, just ran away from home. Cass was always the perfect child, always outdoing Caitlyn, seemingly without even trying. So, it was shocking that she ran away, and so unexpectedly, especially because she was going to Yale in just a few weeks. As Caitlyn tries to make sense of her sister's absence, and the absence it creates in her family's life, she meets Rogerson. He's handsome, cool, and mysterious from the very beginning. As Caitlyn finds herself falling for Rogerson, she sees that his home life is not as perfect as it first appeared to be. And that his hard home life might be taking a toll on his relationship with Caitlyn. Rogerson becomes more and more possessive and Caitlyn doesn't know how much more she can take before she just fades away forever. This book is extremely different from every other Sarah Dessen book I've ever read. But it was still good. Just not as enjoyable, because of the subject matter.
Grade: A-
SC: 5
V: 7
C: 6

Book 76 - Before I Fall

My seventy-sixth book was Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. This book is about Sam Kingston, a very popular girl and the best friend of Lindsay Edgecomb, the most popular girl in school. Sam and Lindsay, along with their other friends Elody and Ally, rule the school until the night of Kent's party. Kent used to be Sam's best friend, until she became too cool after starting to hang out with Lindsay. After the party, as the girls are driving home, they swerve off the road, hitting a tree. Sam is sure they're all dead but she wakes up the next morning, in bed and completely fine. As she starts the same day, over and over, she finally figures out she has to make things right. As she tries to do that, she knows her time is coming to a close. But, just as she knows her life is ending, she starts to fall in love with Kent. And, now more than ever, she has to make things right, if only to be worthy of him.
Grade: A
SC: 6
V: 5
C: 5